Doherty family 'heartbroken' over missing son

FRANKLIN - The parents of a missing 20-year-old Franklin man spoke Wednesday of their desperate hope to see their son returned to them as the search continued for a fourth day.

Nancy and Dan Doherty said to reporters that they were devastated and heartbroken that their son, Michael Doherty, had not yet returned.

"(We) don't wish this on anyone - ever - and we just want our son home," said Nancy Doherty.

She said their son, whom she called the love of their lives, had made many friends, some of whom had traveled to Franklin in hopes of helping with the search, though they have held off in order to not interfere with police efforts.

"We want him home," Dan Doherty said.

Police reported little progress in Wednesday's search for Doherty, a Duke University junior who was last seen leaving a Phyllis Lane house party at 1:30 a.m. Sunday.

Police shifted their efforts to Bellingham, setting up a command post at Maplegate Country Club in that town. Officials said they were seeking to search the Bellingham portion of a one-mile radius around where Doherty was last seen. A reverse-911 call was sent out to Bellingham residents near the Maple Street area, urging them to check their sheds and backyards for anything unusual.

Police have been looking along Mine Brook; Doherty's shirt and two sneakers were found there earlier this week.

Nancy Doherty said she wasn't sure why her son might have cut through the marshy area on his way home early Sunday morning, but said he may have been using a shortcut because of the heavy rain. The Doherty's home is about a mile away via roadways from where the party was held.

Franklin Police Deputy Chief James Mill said Wednesday that crews were pulled in an hour early, at 7 p.m., because of the heat. He said residents had gone above and beyond in support of the effort by dropping off water, Gatorade and energy bars for searchers.

Mill said the plan for Thursday's search had not been determined - discussions would likely continue into the night. Thursday is again expected to have temperatures near 90.

According to Mill, the same resources that took part in the search Tuesday - including the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council, the Southeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council, the Massachusetts State Police, various boat units and K9 dogs - were involved in Wednesday's effort.

Information from Daily News partner WCVB-TV was used in this report.

Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or mgleason@wickedlocal.com. For news throughout the day, follow him on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.